Looking for a cartridge bearing rear hub (winter use)

[sun ra]

As per title really. My commuter bike currently has an 8 speed Shimano RX100 rear that has seen better days and I'm looking to build a new wheel with something that will take a 9 speed cassette and ideally isn't cup and cone. I'd orginally thought I'd use a Hope RS4 (until I saw how much they now cost post pandemic). I might have to bite the bullet and opt for the Hope but thought I'd see if anyone has experience with another hub that might fit the bill. Are there any older Shimano hubs that had cartridge bearings?

[mattsccm]

Shimano will be cup and cone as you have. Plenty of far eastern stuff fits the bill. Often used on many a modern bike, good and not so. Novatech is generally good stuff. Things like Formula tend to be a bit lower level but even so last well. Some cheaper ones have non removable freehubs. Plenty of wheels out there cheap either new or used.

[Keezx]

Miche Primato is cheap and sturdy without nasty problems.
https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collection ... 0-11-speed

[Redvee]

Hope hubs might be expensive but they do last well. I've got a Pro2 Evo rear hub and it has had a set of bearing replaced which considering I've been using it for the last 7 years and clocked up 26,000 miles with it I'm happy for the price I paid.

[531colin]

As per title really. My commuter bike currently has an 8 speed Shimano RX100 rear that has seen better days and I'm looking to build a new wheel with something that will take a 9 speed cassette and ideally isn't cup and cone. I'd orginally thought I'd use a Hope RS4 (until I saw how much they now cost post pandemic). I might have to bite the bullet and opt for the Hope but thought I'd see if anyone has experience with another hub that might fit the bill. Are there any older Shimano hubs that had cartridge bearings?

Why are you seeking out an inferior bearing?

[mattsccm]

I bet it is because they last long enough and are easier to replace if you can't get cones perfect. You notice a less than perfect cone set up, well I do, whereas cartridge bearings just go right in.
I get about 2 years out of a set on my off road bikes.

[531colin]

I’m using XT hubs, the old design with steel axles. I have never been able to actually see any wear on the cone surface, let alone worn one out. I did have the freewheel body skip on one hub.
Just bung in a bit of lube, in theory each year, less than that in real life!

[alexnharvey]

Destroyed a set of cartridge bearings in 3 months over a winter commute. About a tenner to replace them iirc versus my xt hubs which only need a teaspoon of grease every two years.

[sun ra]

I bet it is because they last long enough and are easier to replace if you can't get cones perfect. You notice a less than perfect cone set up, well I do, whereas cartridge bearings just go right in.
I get about 2 years out of a set on my off road bikes.

This post above sums it up quite well.

My favourite wheelsets all use cup and cone hubs (i.e. Campag Record silver, over size hubs for 9/10/11 spd are still my favourite) and I'm not planning of giving up on them anytime soon. But for a commuter bike that doesn't get looked after quite as well as my other couple of bikes then I've begun to think a cartridge bearing hub might be worth trying out. The SON delux dynamo hub up front has cartridge bearings and I've heard they can go on for tens of thousands of KM's without an problems.

Don't get me wrong the Shimano RX100 8 speed hubs I've been using all these years have been an excellent hub set and I've been in two minds about building the rear wheel using a new old stock RX100 as mine has gone on for years having only had very basic maintainance.

[sun ra]

I’m using XT hubs, the old design with steel axles. I have never been able to actually see any wear on the cone surface, let alone worn one out. I did have the freewheel body skip on one hub.
Just bung in a bit of lube, in theory each year, less than that in real life!

What Shimano model codes would I be looking for Colin and do they come in a 130mm OLN? I suspect if 135mm OLN they could be respaced so work with 130mm spaced fork ends.

Would the Shimano Deore XT T780 fit the bill (assuming can be adapted to 130mm OLN) or perhaps a Shimano Deore M610 ?

Feel free to laugh at how easily I've been persuaded to reconsider but after a quick search on t'internet I realise how much cheaper going that option might be compared to the Hope.

[mig]

I bet it is because they last long enough and are easier to replace if you can't get cones perfect. You notice a less than perfect cone set up, well I do, whereas cartridge bearings just go right in.
I get about 2 years out of a set on my off road bikes.

This post above sums it up quite well.

My favourite wheelsets all use cup and cone hubs (i.e. Campag Record silver, over size hubs for 9/10/11 spd are still my favourite) and I'm not planning of giving up on them anytime soon. But for a commuter bike that doesn't get looked after quite as well as my other couple of bikes then I've begun to think a cartridge bearing hub might be worth trying out. The SON delux dynamo hub up front has cartridge bearings and I've heard they can go on for tens of thousands of KM's without an problems.

Don't get me wrong the Shimano RX100 8 speed hubs I've been using all these years have been an excellent hub set and I've been in two minds about building the rear wheel using a new old stock RX100 as mine has gone on for years having only had very basic maintainance.

that seems a common sense option!

[531colin]

I’m using XT hubs, the old design with steel axles. I have never been able to actually see any wear on the cone surface, let alone worn one out. I did have the freewheel body skip on one hub.
Just bung in a bit of lube, in theory each year, less than that in real life!

What Shimano model codes would I be looking for Colin and do they come in a 130mm OLN? I suspect if 135mm OLN they could be respaced so work with 130mm spaced fork ends.

I'm a bit embarrassed to find how much of this stuff I have got stashed away.....about 4 lifetimes worth, for a man of my age!
My XT hubs are 756; thats the steel axle 6 bolt disc hub; I got disc hubs at the time because the rim brake hubs (if that isn't too convoluted!) had gone to ali axles.....subsequently they have been useful for disc brake wheels, too!
The rear hubs have a washer that looks about 3 or 4mm between the cone and its locknut, so easy to get very close to 130mm OLN.
i've also got a 105 rear (5600) that is (I suppose!) 130mm OLN (it will be, won't it?) and is for rim brakes.

I'll certainly never use the 105 rear, and I have many more XTs than I'll ever use.....does anybody want to make me an offer?
(unless that breaks forum rules?)

[zenitb]

The 1/4" ball hubs are still available new in shimano, just down at the Tiagra level now. This is roughly the same level that RX100 was .. a step below 105 in the Shimano hierarchy

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/s ... lsrc=aw.ds

Thats certainly what I would be buying. Either that or one of Colin531's retro 105 hubs (which are also in my stash BTW!!!)

Cheers

George

[sun ra]

Many thanks for all the input from everyone. As always it's much appreciated. Colin, I've PM'd you re the 105 rear.